Some might say that Canadians are paying an inordinate amount of attention to the run-up for the US presidential elections, as I do.

Originally, Clinton was in favor of the invasion of Iraq. Obama was opposed to the war. Both promise to take American soldiers out of an unpopular war. Neither one has been specific about how they expect to do that without it becoming a second Vietnam. Surely they know that the Bushites do not intend to leave Iraq until they have secured Iraqi oil on US terms.

The Republican nominee, McCain, has stated that the war in Iraq could last 100 years. Will the oil last that long? Is this why the US is building the world's biggest embassy in Bagdad?

This embassy, being built in the Green zone, covers an area of 104 acres. It is 6 times larger than the United Nations complex in New York. It is the size of Vatican City. The perimeter of the embassy is surrounded by reinforced concrete walls, purported to be 15 feet thick.

This monstrous embassy, will, upon completion, be totally self sufficient for all its needs. While at the same time average citizens of that war-torn city have only intermittent services in basic utilities, and are burdened with over-crowded morgues.

Back home in the democratic country of the USA, its elected representatives voted 397 to 27 in favor of spending billions of dollars to continue the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What more can we Canadians expect of our "democratic" neighbors to the south, who have the unquestioned support of the Harper government?

Since 2001, the Canadian contribution to our efforts in Afghanistan has cost Canada an unreleased number of injured soldiers, 80 young people who made the supreme sacrifice, and about 6 billion dollars.